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India trade trip ‘a sign of intent’ – say mayors
The mayors of South, West and North Yorkshire say a recent trade mission to India was worthwhile and showed the region’s intent to build stronger links. They travelled to Hyderabad and Mumbai to promote Yorkshire’s businesses and universities, signing agreements in health and textiles, while the trip’s cost to taxpayers remains undisclosed.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said the visit was “100 times worth the cost”, arguing that relationships and trust built in person help secure deals. North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith said a full cost breakdown would be published in due course, alongside details of what businesses, colleges and universities gained. The trip comes as UK-India trade ties deepen: exports from the region to India more than doubled between 2021 and 2023 to about £770m a year, and the University of York’s Mumbai campus plans to grow from around 270 first-year students to 3,000–4,000 annually.
In short
- Yorkshire mayors say their India trade mission was worth the cost.
- The trip’s full taxpayer cost has not yet been disclosed.
- Regional exports to India reached about £770m a year.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The mayors’ case is that an in-person mission can build trust and relationships that help regional firms and universities secure opportunities abroad. With exports to India rising and agreements signed in health and textiles, the trip may support jobs, investment and education links; publishing a full account of costs and outcomes would let taxpayers assess its value.
The case against
Taxpayers are entitled to know the cost and evidence of likely returns before public officials describe a trip as worthwhile. Export growth and a university’s expansion may reflect wider trends rather than this mission, so agreements and new contacts alone do not show that the visit justified its expense.
Explained simply
South, West and North Yorkshire are parts of northern England, each with a mayor who represents the area and promotes its interests. Trade missions are visits abroad where officials and businesses seek commercial, educational and other partnerships.
India is an important market for British businesses and universities, and links between the UK and India have been growing. For Yorkshire, trade and education ties can bring opportunities for local firms and institutions, while the cost of publicly funded visits is relevant to taxpayers.